Phoenix – Jeff DeWit, CEO/Investment Professional and candidate for Arizona State Treasurer, announced today that Tom Jenney has endorsed his candidacy.

“Jeff DeWit is for smaller government, free markets, and low taxes. He is the only Treasurer candidate who opposes the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion. I believe Jeff DeWit will be a prudent custodian of taxpayer money, and I endorse him as the best choice for Arizona State Treasurer,” said Jenney.

“There is no one in Arizona more tirelessly fighting to protect hard-working taxpayers from government overreach, burdensome regulations, and over-taxation,” said DeWit. “Tom Jenney is revered amongst Conservatives and the Grassroots for his efforts and successes, and I am deeply honored to have Tom’s endorsement and support of my campaign.”

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Our recent “Go and Vote” video has received over 3,100 views in 4 days. If you haven’t seen it yet, click here. Please help our campaign by sharing this video with others.

About Jeff DeWit: Jeff is a successful CEO/Investment Professional with over 21 years of experience. For more information about Jeff DeWit and his campaign for State Treasurer, please visit www.JeffDeWit.com. You can also follow campaign updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JeffDeWitAZ or on Twitter at @JeffDeWitAZ.

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL ARIZONA ENDORSES
JEFF DEWIT FOR STATE TREASURER

I’m honored to have the endorsement of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) which has been representing residential building professionals, suppliers, contractors, and affiliated industry professionals throughout the Valley for over 60 years. Today the HBACA represents more than 500 companies with thousands of employees, and serves as the “Voice of the Residential Construction Industry.”

“As I say frequently, Arizona needs leaders who will promote a thriving business community, as I will. The path to success for our State involves growing our economy and bringing in jobs, and I will be very supportive of our future Governor in making that happen,” said DeWit.

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Our recent “Go and Vote” video has received over 3,100 views in 4 days.
If you haven’t seen it yet, click here.
Please help our campaign by sharing this video with others.

About Jeff DeWit: Jeff is a successful CEO/Investment Professional with over 21 years of experience. For more information about Jeff DeWit and his campaign for State Treasurer, please visit www.JeffDeWit.com. You can also follow campaign updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JeffDeWitAZ or on Twitter at @JeffDeWitAZ.

Phoenix – Jeff DeWit, CEO/Investment Professional and Arizona State Treasurer candidate, announced today that Arizona State Representatives Phil Lovas and David Livingston have endorsed his candidacy.

“Jeff would make an outstanding State Treasurer. He is the most conservative candidate, has a record of financial management and is the only candidate against expanding Obamacare in Arizona. I wholeheartedly endorse Jeff for Treasurer,” said Lovas.

Livingston added, “As a professional financial advisor, I know how important it is to have a knowledgeable expert overseeing our state’s $13 Billion investments. As a CEO and Investment professional Jeff has the private sector experience that should be required for our State Treasurer. On top of having the experience, Jeff is a proven conservative and will represent our state well. I’m proud to endorse Jeff DeWit for Arizona State Treasurer.”

“I’m honored to have both Representative Lovas and Livingston endorse my campaign. What’s even more special about this endorsement is that they are my state representatives,” said DeWit. “I’m proud of the work they both do at our State Capitol. Legislative District 22 is represented well by strong conservatives.”

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Our recent “Go and Vote” video has received over 2,600 views in 3 days. If you haven’t seen it yet, click here. Please help our campaign by sharing this video with others.

About Jeff DeWit: Jeff is a successful CEO/Investment Professional with over 21 years of experience. For more information about Jeff DeWit and his campaign for State Treasurer, please visit www.JeffDeWit.com. You can also follow campaign updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JeffDeWitAZ or on Twitter at @JeffDeWitAZ.

In response, Jeff DeWit, CEO/Investment Professional and Arizona State Treasurer candidate, has introduced his family friendly, upbeat, positive campaign video titled “Go and Vote” which can be found on Jeff DeWit’s YouTube Channel here – http://youtu.be/ToUE8zT8Tno – or through the News section on JeffDeWit.com.

“Too many negative messages are flooding the airwaves,” said DeWit. “I hope this sets an example of a different way to encourage Arizonans to vote. Our goal is that this will bring smiles and goodwill to Arizona voters, while showing that there is a better way to get our message out.”

Jeff’s wife, Marina stated, “Anyone who knows Jeff knows that he is very serious about being Arizona’s next State Treasurer and understands the responsibilities of the office. But what many don’t know about him is his great sense of humor, love for his family, friends and the Great State of Arizona. We hope all who view this video will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.”

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About Jeff DeWit: Jeff is a successful CEO/Investment Professional with over 21 years of financial experience. For more information about Jeff DeWit or his campaign for State Treasurer, please visit www.JeffDeWit.com. You can also follow campaign updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JeffDeWitAZ or on Twitter at @JeffDeWitAZ.

As I’ve been traveling throughout our state, introducing myself and sharing why I truly believe I’m the best candidate to serve as Arizona’s next State Treasurer, the support I have received has been astounding and incredibly humbling.

Each and every individual I meet on the campaign trail reminds me of the reasons why I want this job – to protect and serve the future of our great state while preserving and furthering Arizona’s financial prosperity.

The primary job of the State Treasurer is to protect Arizona’s investment portfolio, worth over $12 Billion. This portfolio needs to be entrusted to a proven financial professional from the business and investment community, not a career politician. I am that proven professional.

My personal experience and professional background in the financial industry gives me a solid foundation for my duties as State Treasurer. My experience allows me to begin my first day in office with decades of proven investment results, successful corporate leadership and hard-learned lessons behind me.

My background includes:• Investment Professional for over 20 years, one of the youngest members of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade.

• Founded a financial services firm and served as CEO from our Phoenix HQ for 14 years.

• Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Finance and an Accounting degree.

• Lifelong Republican; Precinct and State Committeeman in LD22.

• Married to Marina; Father of three beautiful girls and reside in the Northwest Valley.

I need a minimum of approximately 6,000 signatures to be listed on the voting ballot and would be honored to have your help. Signing the online petition is very easy to do! Just grab your driver’s license and click here. I appreciate your help.

If you have any questions or comments, just ask! I’m here for you and the future of our state and hope to earn your trust (and your vote) for Arizona State Treasurer!

We have a balanced budget, $2 billion in our operating account and another $450+ million in a savings account earning interest. Arizona is on firm financial footing and the Legislature is back to debating the merits of individual proposals and whether they deserve taxpayer support.

Yet, we’re still not out of the danger zone. If our revenue projections are slightly off or go on another spending spree, we could find ourselves into the same hole we’ve just crawled out of. I’m confident that the Governor and Legislature don’t want to head down that path.

I will continue to advocate for economic growth and financially responsible ideas within our state government. Two areas of particular concern for the long-term health of our finances are our public pension systems and our state debt – both of which are completely solvable situations.

In December 2012 the Defined Contribution & Retirement Study Committee completed a 2-year review of Arizona’s four retirement systems, which currently covers more than 581,000 employees, retirees, or former employees that have yet to retire.

The Pew Center for the States and the Laura and John Arnold Foundation produced a report for the Study Committee titled Arizona’s Pension Challenges in November 2012 highlighting a $13 billion shortfall between what should have been set aside to pay future pension benefits and what the state’s pension plans have on hand. In addition to a growing unfunded liability, the number of retired members in each of the four systems is growing faster than the number of new workers entering.

Much of the discussion surrounding any pension system revolves around complicated financial formulas. There is an equally important human element that must always be in the forefront; these pensions are for those who teach our children, police our streets, put out the fires, respond to medical emergencies, and keep the basic functions of government running.

We are fortunate that our pensions are in far better shape than many other states. That said, there are issues that require attention. Several reform options were explored by the Study Committee for policy makers to consider so Arizona can continue to strengthen and enhance those plans in order to protect the benefits to current retirees and employees that have earned them, as well taxpayers now and in the future.

The final report, as well as all the meeting minutes, presentations and research materials can be accessed here.

Equally as important is our state debt. In January the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) delivered their annual report of Arizona’s State Debt and the status of other financial obligations to the Appropriation Committees in both the House and Senate. Although the Legislature has gone to great lengths to deliver balanced budgets and begin to save money in the “Rainy Day Fund” the past two years, there are several areas on the state’s balance sheet that still need to be addressed.

Arizona’s total outstanding state debt exceeds $8.71 billion; increasing significantly from $4.89 billion in FY 2007. We continue to defer $1.2 billion of payments annually and our General Fund Debt Service costs will rise from $302 million in FY 2012 to $373 million in FY 2014.

Our state debt is too high. Today it is manageable. For tomorrow, we need to address our debt and pay for the money we’ve borrowed and already spent before we continue to commit to new spending. The entire report, which includes debt retirement options and a listing of all lease-purchase/bonding issuances from FY 2003, can be accessed online here.

We need to keep up the momentum that our state government has generated in showing that we can live within our means and demonstrate financial responsibility. Together, as taxpayers and citizens, we can hold elected leaders accountable for the future costs of today’s decisions.

Today, The No New Taxes, No on 204 campaign released a new ad featuring Arizona State Treasurer Doug Ducey. In the ad, Ducey explains that the 15-page ballot measure will raise our taxes $1 BILLION PERMANENTLY on an annual basis to fund a bigger Arizona bureaucracy!

This gargantuan tax increase will also give Arizona the SECOND LARGEST SALES TAX in the country!

This election, let’s stop the big union education establishment from taking more of our tax dollars to feed their bureaucracy! Vote NO on Proposition 204 and tell the education unions enough is enough!

Marks the first time the Budget Stabilization Fund has been replenished since 2009

PHOENIX – State Treasurer Doug Ducey today announced that for the first time since June, 2009 the State of Arizona has set reserve money aside in a savings account to cushion future General Fund budget shortfalls. $450 million has been deposited in the Budget Stabilization Fund as prescribed by the Arizona Legislature and Governor.

Arizona’s Budget Stabilization Fund was enacted by the Arizona Legislature in 1990 to set aside revenue during times of strong economic growth to be spent during periods of weak growth or recession. In 2008 the fund had a balance of more than $700 million before it was drained in fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

“Arizona has worked hard to get its financial house in order,” said State Treasurer Doug Ducey. “In 2011 our state budget was described as being the most structurally broken of any other state on a per capita basis. Our 2012 and 2013 budgets have been balanced, and we’re setting money aside for 2014 and 2015. We simply can’t allow Arizona to dig itself into a hole again. I applaud the Governor and Legislature for the tough decisions they made to get us back on track.”

The National Conference of State Legislatures recently reported that 21 of 29 states projecting positive cash flow planned to put portions of it into reserves. As the economy has slowly picked up, Arizona revenues outpaced projections in FY 2012 resulting in an estimated $231 million General Fund ending balance. The state’s monthly average operating cash balance also increased 58 percent to $1.3 billion, which translates to $483 million more on average each day over FY 2011.

“This is the responsible way every family and small business has to budget,” added Ducey. “You cannot spend more than you generate, and it’s always nice to have a little bit socked away for an emergency. This fiscally responsible strategy will help us avoid the same dramatic reductions that were the result of poor long-term planning in the past the next time we find ourselves in a recession.”

The $450 million Budget Stabilization Fund has been invested in fixed income securities along with more than $4 billion of state agency funds managed by the Office of the Arizona State Treasurer. As a free transparency service to Arizona taxpayers you can access detailed information on all revenue and expenditures at www.AZCheckbook.com.

PHOENIX – “I share in the frustration of Republican leaders with the way the IRC has overstepped their charge and focused solely on one aspect of the redistricting process. I wholeheartedly support the need for competitive districts, but not at the expense of completely ignoring the Constitutional requirements of geographical compactness and aligning communities of interest.

“The congressional maps that have been presented have obvious flaws and total disregard for anything other than to provide Democratic candidates, who have not otherwise been able to win a general election, a statistical advantage.

“This independent commission has acted anything but. This process was established to create the best representation of Arizona citizens and has been manipulated by political forces from the very beginning. I echo Republican leaders call for all citizens to voice their opinions at upcoming public meetings and to share your comments online at www.AZredistricting.org.”

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